1981 Volkswagen Transporter Brown RWD Automatic WAGON

Description for Volkswagen Transporter 1981

1981 Vanagon I was planning on taking it cross country this winter but I've decided to take a hybrid instead on account of the rising gas prices (and for less worrying about maintenance).

It's an awesome van. Like all Vanagons, it's a lot of fun and gets plenty of attention everywhere it goes. It's great for camping, and includes a wooden base in the back to hold a bed with the seats folded down (up to full-size, but there'd be gap in the corner by the side door, you could probably use a set of plastic drawers to remedy that.

Driving

The good - The engine looks great, and has very low mileage. I used it for everyday driving around town during the summer and didn’t experienced any significant issues. After that it stopped running, but I’m not sure why. the EGR light is one, but I don’t know what that means. The van was actually taken on a long tour of the Southern United States in 2020, driven from NJ down to Florida through the south to Texas and back without any major problems. The engine was rebuilt a couple of years ago and appears to be in great shape. The gas mileage is decent for a vehicle it's age (around 20 MPG give or take a few). There's a little rust on the body but the undercarriage is pretty much rust-free. Also - it's automatic, which is great for if you want to take on the Vanagon lifestyle without driving a stick.

The bad - as mentioned, it doesn’t currently drive. It would have to be towed away (or you’re welcome to get it running in my driveway!). Axles need replacement. It's not a big job, and you can do it for around $200 yourself. The parts are available on busdepot.com. Obviously it would cost more to get it done professionally. Also has a minor oil leak, which has not affected functioning, I just topped off the oil every couple weeks when I was driving it.

Sunroof

The good - It's an old school manual sunroof, lots of fun to stick your head through when driving around with friends and great for stargazing. Also great for ventilation when camping in warmer areas. Most importantly, it doesn't leak! You'll notice the tape that's been cut on that side. It was leaking so I taped it up because I thought the leak was coming from the crack. Turns out, I just needed to brush the leaves off of the drains and it's been dry ever since.

The bad - A small crack on the passenger side. It doesn't leak, but you've gotta be careful to clean the drains so that it continues to not leak 🙂 Aesthetically, the tape doesn't look great. You could get it off with a paint scraper and goo-gone, but I haven't cared to do that because nobody sees the top.

Solar!

The good - It has solar panels! Already installed on top and wired through to a battery that's stored under the driver's seat. The panels and battery work well, and the van includes a fully functioning light already installed. Very very convenient for camping, long trips, and charging phones/laptops or using a fan on the road.

The bad - the inverter (red and black to the right of the battery in the picture) isn't working. I'm not sure if it needs replacement or just rewiring (either way, cheap replacements available from Amazon or Walmart), it hasn't worked since I got it and I'm really not great with these things so I haven't tried.

Overall, it's an amazing car and can be a dream come true for the right person. It's a piece of history and virtually made for a great time. That said, it's an old car and is being sold as is. If you're willing to put some work into it, this is is great for you. With a car this age, there are always things that'll come up. I wish I could keep it, but like I said, I’m not handy and don’t know how to maintain anything like it.

Extra Goodies:

Wooden base in the back that is the same height as the seats, used for holding a bed (up to full-size).

Two bicycle rack that hitches onto the back.

Extra Headlight.

Depending on location I may be able to deliver for a reasonable rate - feel free to be in touch if you'd like to discuss that option.